[Coco] CoCo MIDI

[Bill Pierce]

Mike, The Coco MIDI pak was originally made by "Speech Systems" (then "Rulaford Research" & "MusicWare").
The schematics were obtained by the Glenside Color Computer Club in which they made a run or 2 back in the late 90s (early 2000s?). You may be able to contact Glenside and see if they have any laying around. I know they show up at the Cocofest auction quite a bit.
The schematics to the MIDI pak are available somewhere.... if you need them, I have a copy.
Also, the RS-232 pak can be converted to a MIDI pak. From what I understand, it's pretty simple. I think Gene Heskett can tell you more about that mod.

Coco MIDI Pro was actually the software that was sold by Musicware for the pak (from Coco MIDI, to Coco MIDI 2 & to Coco MIDI 3), a 16 channel real time sequencer/recorder. The software is available in the Color Computer Archives as well "Lyra" (RSDOS), and "Ultimuse3" (OS9) sequencers, both of which will use the MIDI pak OR a Coco serial to MIDI cable (bitbanger port). Coco MIDI Pro will ONLY operate with the MIDI pak as the bitbanger isn't fast enough to do two way MIDI communication.

As an alternative, DriveWire4 supports "DW4 MIDI" in which the MIDI data is sent through the bitbanger to DW4 which is then ported to the PC's Software MIDI Synth (many available for free on the net, DW4 comes with one). Both Lyra and Ultimuse3 can use this feature in DW4 and play MIDI through your PC speakers without any real MIDI hardware keyboard (really nice!). Special versions are available on my website (Ultimuse3), or in the Color Computer Archives (Lyra).

 

 


Bill Pierce
"Charlie stole the handle, and the train it won't stop going, no way to slow down!" - Ian Anderson - Jethro Tull

 

My Music from the Tandy/Radio Shack Color Computer 2 & 3
https://sites.google.com/site/dabarnstudio/
Co-Contributor, Co-Editor for CocoPedia
http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Global Moderator for TRS-80/Tandy Color Computer Forums
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E-Mail: ooogalapasooo at aol.com


 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Brant <brant.michael.l at gmail.com>
To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
Sent: Tue, Sep 1, 2015 9:11 pm
Subject: [Coco] CoCo MIDI


I was looking on the CoCopedia website and saw a hardware device call CoCo
MIDI.
Does anyone know about this device or even have one for sale?  The
wiki article
is nonexistent. I been wanting to get more into MIDI and have
been looking for
MIDI hardware for my vintage computers.
Thanks,
Mike

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